Latest news with #irregular heartbeat
Health Line
16-07-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Types of Atrial Fibrillation: What You Need to Know
Key takeaways AFib is classified into four types based on how long the irregular heartbeat lasts: paroxysmal, persistent, long-standing persistent, and permanent. Paroxysmal AFib comes and goes on its own, while persistent AFib lasts longer and may require medical intervention. Long-standing persistent AFib lasts for at least a year, and permanent AFib is continuous. Treatment options vary depending on the type of AFib, but the goals are to restore normal heart rhythm, manage heart rate, and prevent blood clots. Overview Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a type of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. It causes the upper and lower chambers of your heart to beat out of sync, fast, and erratically. AFib used to be classified as either chronic or acute. But in 2014, new guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association changed the classification of atrial fibrillation from two types to four: paroxysmal AFib persistent AFib long-standing persistent AFib permanent AFib You can start with one type of AFib that eventually becomes another type as the condition progresses. Keep reading to learn more about each type. 1. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation Paroxysmal AFib comes and goes. It begins and ends spontaneously. The irregular heartbeat may last anywhere from several seconds to a week. However, most episodes of paroxysmal AFib resolve themselves within 24 hours. Paroxysmal AFib may be asymptomatic, which means that you experience no apparent symptoms. The first line of treatment for asymptomatic paroxysmal AFib may be lifestyle changes, such as reducing daily caffeine consumption and reducing stress, in addition to medications as preventative measures. 2. Persistent atrial fibrillation Persistent AFib also begins spontaneously. It lasts at least seven days and may or may not end on its own. Medical intervention such as cardioversion, in which your doctor shocks your heart into rhythm, may be needed to stop an acute, persistent AFib episode. Lifestyle changes and medications may be used as preventive measures. 3. Long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation Long-standing persistent AFib lasts at least a year without interruption. It's often associated with structural heart damage. This type of AFib can be the most challenging to treat. Medications to maintain a normal heart rate or rhythm are often ineffective. More invasive treatments may be needed. These can include: electrical cardioversion catheter ablation pacemaker implantation 4. Permanent atrial fibrillation Long-standing persistent AFib can become permanent when treatment doesn't restore normal heart rate or rhythm. As a result, you and your doctor make a decision to stop further treatment efforts. This means your heart is in a state of AFib all the time. According to research, this type of AFib may result in more severe symptoms, lower quality of life, and an increased risk of a major cardiac event.
ABC News
15-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Woman's heart surgery at Flinders Medical Centre delayed for months
A South Australian woman who feared she might not make it while waiting for heart surgery has been told her life-saving procedure has been scheduled for next week. Bek Batt told ABC Radio Adelaide on Tuesday morning that she was told in January that she needed a pacemaker and two stents in her heart, as well as a cardiac ablation, to treat an irregular heartbeat. The Victor Harbor woman said she had met a surgeon and was told she would be waiting for no more than a month. "He said if he had his way I'd be in within two weeks, I was promised it would be no more than two weeks, no more than four weeks, I'm still waiting," she said. "I think I'll be gone before I get the heart surgery." She said she was worried she would have a stroke while waiting for the treatment at Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) but understood the significant demand on healthcare workers. "They're all under pressure and there's no way around it," Ms Batt said. After speaking with the ABC, Ms Batt was told her surgery had been scheduled for next week. The woman said she was "very relieved" to have a booked-in date. Earlier today, SA Health chief executive Robyn Lawrence said the health system was facing "unprecedented demand" in some areas because of "a really bad flu season this year". "It's not a crisis but it's definitely extremely busy right across our system," Dr Lawrence said. "We also have 261 patients waiting for residential aged care, which is a 40 per cent uplift since last year." She said the decision to postpone category 1 elective surgery was up to doctors at individual hospitals. "If the hospital needs to make that call and they can do it safely, they will make the appropriate decision," she said. The FMC, the biggest hospital in Adelaide's southern suburbs, is where ambulances spend more time waiting to offload patients — also known as being "ramped" — than any other Adelaide hospital excluding the Royal Adelaide, according to government data which dates back to 2017. The number of hours ambulances spent ramped outside the FMC increased from 876 in February to 1,121 in March — the biggest spike of any Adelaide hospital. In June, the SA Salaried Medical Officers Association (SASMOA) said the level of violence has increased in the hospital's emergency department where several patients have threatened doctors and caused property damage.
